Switch



July 3, 1923. 1.460.542

A. E. GRISWOLD SWITCH Filed April 20. 1921 HNDHEW E 617/5 W04. z;

Patented July 3, 1923.

UNITED STATES A'N'DREW E. GRISWOLD. OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

SWITCH.

Application filed April 20, 1921.

a le from" outside of theliousing.

The principal object of the presentin'ven' tion is t c-provide a safety sw'itch'of the above charactqso constructed that the door of the switchhousing, which is provided in order that access may be had to the switch mechanism, fuses, etc, can not be opened without first opening orcausing the switch to be opened, nor can the switch be closed while said door is o n.

Another ob ect of the invention resides in the manner of mounting the switch operat ing handle-which permits it to be dismount ed and then moved within the switch box for shipping, or storage; thereby making possible closer and easier packing of such switches than is ordinarily possible.

Another object of the invention resides in the construction whereby the switch may, it desired, be locked in the off position to prevent its use by any unauthorized person.

A still' further object resides in the rovision of a hinge pin whereon the box door and the switch handle are pivotally mounted. which is constructed in such manner that. so long as the switch box door is closed and locked, the pin can not be removed and the door in this way removed and the switch tampered with.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a'safetv switch embodying the present invention the switch handle being shown in off position.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section of' the same, with the switch shown closcd in full lines and open in dotted lines.

Figure 5 is a front view of the switx-h when closed with the upper portion of the Serial No. 462,818.

front wall of the box broken away to illustrate the interior parts of the Switch.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 2.

Referring more in detail to the several views of the drawings. wherein like refer ence numerals designate the same or like parts ldesignates the switch box. or housing wherein the switch jaws and blades are contained. This box is preferably of rectan gular form and is constructed of sheet metal, or other material and provided at the front with a door 2, which is adapted to close the lower half of the box, and which is hingedlymounted upon the lower horizontal edge of a plate 3 which is secured to and closes the upper portion of the front of the box; the door being mounted by means of two spaced apart hinges 4 and 5; the upper and lower sections of which are both joined by the same 'hinge pin 6.

At one end, the pin 6 has a laterally turned portion 7 which normally seats, when the door is closed, within cooperating notches or sockets 8-8' located respectively in the edge of the door adjacent the hinge and in the lower edge of the cover plate 3. This type of pin is used in order that. so long as the door is closed. the pin can not be re moved to permit the door. or switch handle being tampered with by an unauthorized person. but which. upon opening the door, can be removed if it is desired to do so in order to remove the door or switch handle, as presently described.

Mounted pivot-ally upon the hinge pin 6 between the two hinges. and extending through suitable openings cut in the box cover plate 3 and door 2, is a switch handle 10. This, for a three pole switch as illustrated, comprises opposite side bars which are spread apart at their outer ends and have a gripping member 11 mounted therein, and which are drawn closely together at the mounting point through which the pin extends and have a plate 152 secured between them at this point which has a laterally extending ear or stop 14 on the, under side thereof, Figure 2. which will engage the door 2 when the handle is moved downwardly. to limit its movement in this direction. Within the box. the side bars of the handle are bent laterally in opposite directions and then inwardly and at their inner ends have the ends of toggle links 15 pivot ally connected therewith whiclrin turn at their opposite ends connect with a bar 16 which is fixed. by means of plates 13 through which it extends, to a series oi switch blades 19 which are pivotally mounted at their lower ends between switch jaws 17 and, at their upper end. are adapted to be moved into and from switch jaws 18 by inanipula tion of the handle 10. The bar 16 is so mounted that the edges of the blades 19 are set. within notches or grooves provided with in it, so that it is prevented from slipping from place.

The switch jaws 17 and 18 are mounted upon an insulating block 20 that is fixed to the back wall and inside of the box, and circuit wires 21 and 22 are connected re spectively with these jaws, as is best shown in Figure 2; the wire 22 being connected through fuses 24, as is common practice.

To prevent unauthorized opening of the 'box. I provide the door 2 with a key con trolled 1001: as is indicated at 25, or other suitable means such as would be provided to receive a pad lock.

. At the upper edge of the plate 3 I have fixed a flange plate 25 which is adapted to eitend beneath the horizontal flange 26 of the upper wall section of the box. so that this plate can not be removed while the door is locked even should the screws which hold it'be removed.

Fortwo and four pole switches, the con struction of the handle would be slightly diiierent from the one here shown, but would operate in the same manner and would not depart from the spirit of the invention.

. Assuming that the switch box and mech anism are so constructed as described. and illustrated, it will be seen by reference to Figure 2 of the drawings. that by moving the 'outer end of the handle 10 downwardly, the inner end will move upwardly and, through its connection bv means of the links 15 with the switch blade actuating bar 16. will cause'all of the switch blades to be moved into the jaws to close an electric cir cuit through the switchv It will also be noted that by moving the handle in the op- POslte direction the blades will be pulled outwardly and the switch opened.

'It is apparent also that when the switch is closed. the door can not be opened without causing the handle to he moved up wardly and the switch thereby opened; this being eliccted by engagement of the door as it is opened with the lateral extension 14' of the plate 12 that is secured between the handle forming members.

It is also noted that. should the swit h be open and the door also open. the switch can not he closed so long as the door is open Normally when the swit h is op n. the

parts assume the position 1H whirl: they are ree s i2 vshoe n in dotted lines in Figure 2, but should It be desired to position them so that the switch can not be closed, the door is opened and the switch blades pulled Farther downward so ihat the toggle links pass over the box. This is effected without disconnecting it from the switch, by first opening the door 2. which permits the end portion 7 of the pin to be unseated from the notches 8 8, and then removing the pin from the hinges so that the door and handle are released. The handles may then be laid within the box and the door replaced and closed.

Having thus described my invention; what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. A safety switch of the character described comprising a switch housing providedwith an outwardly opening 1 door. spaced 'apart hinges having the sectioiis thereof fixed to the said housing and to the door, a hinge pin extended through and pivotally connecting the sections of the hinges, a switch mechanism located within the lions ing, a switch handle pivotally mounted upon the hinge pin operatively connected at its inner end with the switch m'echii'nism and with an outer operating portion movableto open or close the switch while the housing door is closed. and adapted to be moved so as to open the switch by the opening inove mentjof the housing door. i r

2: A safety switch of the character described comprising in. combination. a switch housing provided at the front with an outwardly opening; door. spaced apart hinges having the sections thereof fixed to said housing and to said door. a single hintge pin extended through and pivotally connecting the sections of both hinges, a switchmecha nism within the housing and a handle'operatively connected for operating the said switch mechanism, pivotally moiinted on said hinge pin between the said hinges.

3. A safety switch of the character de scribed comprising in combination. a'switch housimg provided at the front with an out wardly opening: door. spaced apart. hinges having the sections thereof fixed to said housing and to said door. a single hinge pin extended through and pivotally connecting the sections of both hinges. a switch mechanism within the housing and a handle op eralivcly connected for operating the said switch inecluinism. pivotallv mounted on said hinge pin between the said hinges. a

plate fixed to said handle at the pivot point having an ear extending laterally therefrom outside of the housing for engaging the door to limit movement of the handle closing di rection and which, if the switch is closed, will be engaged by the opening of the door to cause said switch handle to be moved to open position.

4. A safety switch of the class described comprising in combination, a switch housing closed at the front by a fixed Wall and a door that is hingedly attached thereto, said wall and door having registering notches therein at the hinged edges, a pair of spaced apart hinges for mounti said door, the sections of which are fixe respectively to said door and said fixed Wall, a single hinge pin for both sets of hinge sections, having a laterally turned end portion adapted to extend throu b said notches to prevent removal of salt? pin when said door is closed, a switch mechanism within the housing, a handle operatively connected to operate the switch mechanism extending from the housing from between said hinges and pivotally mounted on the hinge pin, and a lock Whereby the said door ma; be normally retained in closed position to prevent removal of the Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 14th day of April, 1921.

ANDRE E. GRISW OLD. 

